Australian Yoga Journal — November 2017

60

november/december 2017

yogajournal.com.au

Less stress, more success

According to Youth Beyond Blue,

approximately one in 35 Australians

aged 4-17 experience a depressive

disorder. Furthermore, one in 14 among

this demographic experienced an

anxiety disorder in 2015. Such concerns

may be triggered by high-pressure

exams and assessments beginning in

primary school, which could decrease a

student’s productivity and performance.

“Science has proven — and

educators have experienced — that

when students are anxious, frustrated or

stressed, it is nearly impossible for them

to focus, learn or be ‘test-ready’. Yoga

and mindfulness provide effective

solutions for calming the nervous

system and enhancing emotional

intelligence,” says Healy-Pagan.

A 2009 study by MGN College of

Education (India) supported yoga’s

potential in this regard, revealing

students performed better in

mathematics, science and social studies

after a seven-week yoga module

involving postures, breathing,

meditation and a value-orientation

program.

Founder of school-based wellbeing

provider Life Skills Group, Nikki Bonus,

reiterates that stress-reduction tools can

enhance performance beyond

academics. “Our students report that

they also use mindfulness and breathing

techniques to help them with sport and

performing in front of others. Every

lesson, students practice a mindful

minute of balloon breathing. They

imagine they have a balloon in their

belly, inflating upon inhale, deflating

upon exhale,” explains Sydney-based

Bonus.

“Our programs focus on recognising

and dealing with emotions as they arise,

helping students detect early signs of

stress and anxiety. Sitting in their

mindful bodies, students check their

‘internal weather’. They may feel happy,

so the weather is warm and sunny. It

may be partly cloudy or they may feel a

storm brewing. We discuss how

feelings, like the weather, are always

changing.”

Harnessing children’s imaginations

can make for a memorable experience.

Innovative Yoganauts, founded by

Sydney-based exercise scientist Paul

Karantonis, engages children with

symbolic superhero themes: Airon

(breath and vitality), Goru (strength

and balance), Zazen (happiness and

serenity) and Kaizen (willpower and

transformation).

“Yoganauts serve brain-food in

intriguing ways. We periodise the tempo

and weave in superpowers of being

mighty, strong and focussed,

non-competitively challenging oneself

and working on invisible willpower to

create a showcase of movement and

mindfulness,” explains Karantonis.

Social skills and cohesion

Upholding its translation to ‘union’ and

philosophy of ahimsa (non-violence),

yoga organically instils kindness —

thank heavens for that! A 2015 study

by ABC’s current affairs program for

children, Behind the News, questioned

20,000 Australian children aged

between six to 16 and revealed

prominent issues Australian kids worry

about included friends, bullying, and

being different. Alarmingly, two-thirds

reportedly experienced bullying.

These are concerning results that

may be reduced, particularly through

partner-orientated exercises promoting

playfulness, trust, and peer support.

“Our programs foster social cohesion

by providing an environment for

students to work together in pairs or

groups. We create awareness around

what values we need to call on in these

situations. There is opportunity for

discussion and reflection, and students

are encouraged to show compassion and

empathy,” says Bonus.

Disruptive behaviour can also create

social disconnection, but potentially can

be alleviated by wellbeing frameworks.

A recent trial at Randwick’s Prince of

Wales Hospital revealed meditation can

ease symptoms of attention deficit

hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A six-

week Sahaja yoga meditation program

delivered to 48 children diagnosed with

ADHD reduced symptom severity by an

average of 35 per cent, allowing some to

decrease medication.

Many children diagnosed with

hyperactivity and behavioural problems

have recently become overstimulated

through exposure to and use of faddish

gadgets like fidget-spinners, which can

catapult curious minds into chaos.

Karantonis has witnessed this trend,

and says perhaps what they really need

is encouragement, empowerment and

space to engage in more self-directed

stillness.

“Many in a group we worked with in

regional New South Wales had suffered

previous trauma. The first week

presented aggressive behavioural

challenges. By week three, the most

aggressive students chose to sit down

on our recharge station and take a

meditative-style break,” he reflects.

“We never force this. It is rewarding

to see children select this themselves.

We had provided a new platform for

them to explore what may be beneficial

for them in ways they understand.”

Lead by example

Of course, success of school-based

programs doesn’t solely rely on

supporting students, but educators and

parents too. To achieve the greatest

impact, teachers require relevant

training, time and resources to ideally

integrate mindfulness in their overall

approach to teaching, beyond

designated yoga sessions. For this

reason, companies such as Life Skills

Group and YTFS consider their

professional development programs as

being as crucial as those designed for

primary and secondary children.

“YTFS’ initial focus has been to

support, inspire and empower educators

first. When teachers use Yoga Tools for

personal wellbeing, they have tools to

manage their energy amidst increasing

demands of teaching, and model and

share these experiences with others,”

says Healy-Pagan.

Ever heard the saying: “It takes a

village to raise a child”? This in mind,

Bonus believes a whole-school approach

is essential in delivering wellbeing

programs. “We try to educate not only

teachers, but also provide opportunities

for parents and families to be involved.

Mindfulness takes practice; you need to

have an understanding and lead by

example. The best way to educate

students is for the adults in their lives

to exemplify these behaviours.”

A 2016 study conducted across

Western Australian schools by Mindful

Meditation Australia reiterated the

importance of community engagement.

The report revealed, “Many felt that

simply using the term ‘mindfulness’

would put a lot of parents off, as they

had a poor understanding of the term

and deeply established attitudes toward

meditation.”

Raising awareness within homes

means children may more likely utilise